Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports selected Jeffery Simmons to their preseason All-America teams.
Simmons Tabbed Preseason All-American by Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports
August 15, 2018 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State's Jeffery Simmons reeled in two preseason All-American honors on Wednesday as the junior defensive tackle was named to the Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports Preseason All-America teams.
Simmons was tabbed a second-team defensive selection by both publications, marking the third time this summer the Macon, Miss., native has earned preseason All-American accolades. Simmons joined senior defensive end Montez Sweat on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-America team in June.
Anchoring the Bulldog defense last season, Simmons helped MSU to one of the programs best defense performances since 1999. The Bulldogs closed the 2017 season ranked 10th nationally in total defense, allowing only 306.3 yards per game.
Despite being double-teamed for most of the 2017 season, Simmons recorded 60 tackles over his sophomore campaign and was tabbed a first-team All-SEC honoree. Simmons ranked 11th in the conference with 12.0 tackles for loss, which included a career-best five sacks. He also forced and recovered two fumbles while tallying three blocks on special teams, which tied SMU's Justin Lawler for the national lead.
Simmons scored twice last season with two touchdowns in MSU's road contest at Louisiana Tech, becoming the first MSU defensive player since Johnathan Banks in 2009 to score twice in a game. Simmons was also a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week honoree in 2017.
Simmons and the Bulldogs will open the Joe Moorhead era inside Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 1 against Stephen F. Austin on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m. CT.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
2018 Mississippi State Preseason Honors
Jace Christmann, So., K
Lou Groza Award Watch List
Nick Fitzgerald, Sr., QB
Third-Team All-SEC (Media)
Maxwell Award Watch List
Davey O'Brien Award Watch List
Gerri Green, Sr., DE
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Elgton Jenkins, Sr., OL
Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List
Mark McLaurin, Sr., S
Third-Team All-SEC (Media)
Jeffery Simmons, Jr., DT
First-Team All-SEC (Media, Phil Steele)
Sports Illustrated Preseason All-American (Second Team)
CBS Sports Preseason All-American (Second Team)
Athlon Sports Preseason All-American (Second Team)
Bednarik Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Montez Sweat, Sr., DE
First-Team All-SEC (Media, Phil Steele)
Athlon Sports Preseason All-American (Third Team)
Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Ted Hendricks Award Watch List
Deddrick Thomas, Jr., WR
Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Aeris Williams, Sr., RB
Third-Team All-SEC (Media)
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Simmons was tabbed a second-team defensive selection by both publications, marking the third time this summer the Macon, Miss., native has earned preseason All-American accolades. Simmons joined senior defensive end Montez Sweat on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-America team in June.
Anchoring the Bulldog defense last season, Simmons helped MSU to one of the programs best defense performances since 1999. The Bulldogs closed the 2017 season ranked 10th nationally in total defense, allowing only 306.3 yards per game.
Despite being double-teamed for most of the 2017 season, Simmons recorded 60 tackles over his sophomore campaign and was tabbed a first-team All-SEC honoree. Simmons ranked 11th in the conference with 12.0 tackles for loss, which included a career-best five sacks. He also forced and recovered two fumbles while tallying three blocks on special teams, which tied SMU's Justin Lawler for the national lead.
Simmons scored twice last season with two touchdowns in MSU's road contest at Louisiana Tech, becoming the first MSU defensive player since Johnathan Banks in 2009 to score twice in a game. Simmons was also a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week honoree in 2017.
Simmons and the Bulldogs will open the Joe Moorhead era inside Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 1 against Stephen F. Austin on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m. CT.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
2018 Mississippi State Preseason Honors
Jace Christmann, So., K
Lou Groza Award Watch List
Nick Fitzgerald, Sr., QB
Third-Team All-SEC (Media)
Maxwell Award Watch List
Davey O'Brien Award Watch List
Gerri Green, Sr., DE
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Elgton Jenkins, Sr., OL
Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List
Mark McLaurin, Sr., S
Third-Team All-SEC (Media)
Jeffery Simmons, Jr., DT
First-Team All-SEC (Media, Phil Steele)
Sports Illustrated Preseason All-American (Second Team)
CBS Sports Preseason All-American (Second Team)
Athlon Sports Preseason All-American (Second Team)
Bednarik Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Montez Sweat, Sr., DE
First-Team All-SEC (Media, Phil Steele)
Athlon Sports Preseason All-American (Third Team)
Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Ted Hendricks Award Watch List
Deddrick Thomas, Jr., WR
Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Aeris Williams, Sr., RB
Third-Team All-SEC (Media)
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
S
/ Football
DT
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ FootballFOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Thursday, April 16
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kamario Taylor
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kelley Jones
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Saturday, April 11